BRUSSELS, Belgium (AP) – European Union agriculture ministers on Monday agreed on draft proposals to tighten the use of pesticides across Europe, banning those that cause cancer or pose unnecessary health risks to humans.

The agreement came after two years of negotiations among EU nations and with lawmakers at the European Parliament, and Monday’s compromise deal still needs the final backing of the EU assembly. The EU parliament could amend the deal, and many lawmakers have called for EU rules on pesticides to be even tougher than the compromise reached Monday.

The new rules would force farmers and chemicals makers to replace hazardous plant protection products with safer ones and do away with granting provisional user licenses to pesticides that are still being submitted to a new EU pesticides register.

“One of the main aims of the proposal is to maintain a high level of protection for humans, animals and the environment. This is essential for our citizens,” said EU Health Commissioner Androulla Vassiliou. “We will not authorize what is known to be harmful for public health.”

She said pesticides that can cause cancer, are toxic to reproductive systems, or disrupt hormones will no longer be used to spray crops.

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